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January 2002

-VOLUME 18 NO.22, THURSDAY, JAN. 31, 2002-

According to information from the Cleveland Police Department, 23-year-old Roger Lynn Williamson has been arrested and charged with aggravated assault in the early morning shooting of another Cleveland man, Daniel Doolittle. Mr. Doolittle was reportedly shot with a .32 caliber handgun in front of his home around 5:30 a.m. last Friday morning and was airlifted to Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, where he was treated and later released. Police said ballistics tests resulted in a match with a weapon of the same caliber found on Williamson’s person. The suspect was last reported being held at the Liberty County Jail on a $175,000 bond.

Chambers County Sheriff Monroe Kreuzer said three people killed in a house fire in Beach City early Monday morning have been identified as 25-year-old Alfred Owens, Jody Ewell, age 40 and her 3-year-old son, Joshua Ewell. The cause of that fire remains undetermined, but Sheriff Kreuzer said specially- trained canine units used in the investigation have detected nothing that would lead officials to believe that arson was involved. Preliminary autopsy results show that all three victims died from smoke inhalation and the effects of intense heat.

The Liberty City Council met last night and, as expected, voted unanimously to join the Texas Municipal Retirement System. City Manager Kerry Lacy pointed out that the extra 5% the city will pay in becoming a member of the TMRS is a savings of roughly $28,000 over the cost of increasing each employee’s pay enough for individual initial contributions.

The public is invited to the Liberty County Historical Commission’s 3rd Annual Countywide Black History Program this Sunday at 3 p.m. in the Liberty Middle School Auditorium. The highlight of the program will be the presentation of "Black Heritage" Awards to five local residents.

A new hour-long program premieres on All Nine Radio this Saturday night at 8:30 p.m. "Bob Bomer’s Country Classics with Host Roy Bennett" follows the weekly live broadcast from the Liberty Opry on the Square and features classic country music from the 1940’s through the 1970’s.

**LAKE RELEASE: 3,150 CFS * LIBERTY BRIDGE: 9.04 ASL**

-VOLUME 18 NO.21, WEDNESDAY, JAN. 30, 2002-

Liberty City Manager Kerry Lacy said that he has accepted the position of city manager in Watauga, Texas, near Fort Worth. We had reported that the 52-year-old Lacy was one of three finalists for the top administrative job in the city of approximately 22,000 and the offer came via a telephone call from Watauga’s mayor Monday night. Kerry Lacy came to Liberty almost two years ago, after 22 years with City of Jasper and his last day on the job here will be March 31st.

According to Dee Muir of the Beach City Volunteer Fire Department, firefighters were called to a house fire on FM 2454 in the Southwestern Chambers County city around 6 a.m. Monday morning and found a one-story home completely engulfed in flames. The fire was fought, with mutual aid from the Barbers Hill and Baytown Fire Departments, for over an hour before firefighters could enter the residence, where they found the bodies of two adults and one child, whose names have not been released. The cause remains under investigation.

Liberty County Commissioners met yesterday and approved the purchase of a new insurance policy for county officials, law officers, vehicles, property, equipment and general liability at a cost of $408,000. Insurance Agent Dennis Odell told commissioners the increase over the last policy’s $365,000 price tag was mainly due to adding coverage for all county buildings.

After just over a week of work to install the new underground water pipe beneath FM 563 in Liberty, TxDot reopened the road to traffic yesterday afternoon. The new pipe replaces the almost-century old overhead flume in transporting water from the Trinity River to the Devers Canal System. TxDot’s Marc Shepherd said crews will begin connecting the new pipe to a pump system for moving the water and the $1.2 million project should see completion by the end of next month.

The 51st Annual Trinity Valley Relays is scheduled for the weekend of February 22nd at the Liberty High School Track. The event is one of the longest-running Track and Field Meets in Texas and LHS Track Coach Tony Munson said, so far, 14 boys teams and 13 girls teams have entered, with more expected.

**LAKE RELEASE: 3,150 CFS * LIBERTY BRIDGE: 9.06 ASL**

-VOLUME 18 NO.20, TUESDAY, JAN. 29, 2002-

A series of accidents involving a total of 12 vehicles closed traffic on Hwy 146 south of Dayton for almost two hours yesterday morning. Dayton Police report the trouble started when Johnny Lee Bennett, 72, of Liberty driving a large truck in front of the CMC rail yards, struck a vehicle driven by Reginald Sterling, 40, also of Liberty. DPS reports said Juanita Nelson, 55, of Liberty slowed because of the first accident and was rear-ended by a vehicle driven by Felipe Rubio, again, also of Liberty. In turn, Mrs. Nelson hit the back of a vehicle in front of her, driven by Sally Green, 32, of Liberty. While information on all the drivers and vehicles involved was not available, reports said six people in all were taken to the hospital for treatment.

Among the items for consideration by the Liberty City Council at tomorrow night’s meeting is the decision to discontinue the city’s current pension trust fund with Aetna and begin paying into the Texas Municipal Retirement System. City Manager Kerry Lacy said the switch to the new retirement plan for city employees will be good for the city overall, in helping to keep experienced personnel and attracting qualified employees from other cities. The meeting begins at 5 p.m. at Liberty City Hall.

Reservations are available now for the 26th Annual Liberty-Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet on Feb.28th at the Dayton High School Cafeteria. Keynote speaker this year is success-oriented humorist Doc Blakely of Wharton, Texas. The prestigious Citizen of the Year Awards for Liberty and Dayton will also be presented. Tickets are $20 each. Call the Chamber Office at 336-5736 for reservations.

Liberty School District Patrons will have an extra early voting opportunity tonight at the Liberty High School Open House from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. As reported, the district is seeking voter approval of a $17 million bond issue to fund the construction of two new campuses. Early voting will also continue from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mon. through Fri. at the LISD Administration Offices through Feb. 5th. Election Day for the bond issue is Feb. 9th.

According to an administrator at Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, Steen Due of Zavalla was released from the hospital yesterday. Mr. Due and another worker Juan Mendosa also of Zavalla were injured in an industrial accident Friday. Mr. Mendosa reportedly slipped and fell some 20ft to the bottom of an access pipe in Ames. Steven Due went to rescure him but was overcome by fumes from a gas-powered engine. Air ambulances flew both men to the Houston hospital. Juan Mendosa died Friday night. 5 local Fire Departments aided in Rescuing the 2 men from the access pipe.

According to Myron Broussard with TxDOT, the Liberty County SO has heard complaints about people bypassing the barricades on FM 563 at the Flume. According to one law enforcement officer, anyone caught could be ticketed for disregarding a traffic control device. Mr. Broussard said FM 563 should be open to traffic later this week.

The Liberty County District Attorney's Office will hold another Citizens Police Academy. Scheduled to begin Tuesday, March 5th, the academy will meet every Tuesday night for 12 weeks at the LIberty Masonic Lodge. The class is limited to 15 students, for more information contact the Liberty County District Attorney's office at 336-4609.

Any property taxes still unpaid by this Friday will be assessed a 7 percent late charge. Property taxes should be paid at the tax office in Liberty at the courthouse or in Cleveland at the courthouse annex. Mailed Payments must be postmarked by Jan 31st to avoid the penalty.

1/28 Funerals:

Selman "Dutch" Hooks, 87 of Dayton. Services will be tomorrow at 10am at the Sterling Funeral home in Dayton

Loyce Kathryn Dugat Clemens, 94 of Old River. Funeral services will be today at 10am at the Old River Assembly of God Church

Roland Calvert Davis, 72 of Hardin. Services will be today at 2pm at the Hardin Bapt Church

Dorothy Reid "Dot" Gassett, 75 of Moss Bluff. Services were held this weekend at the North Main Bapt Church in Liberty.

-VOLUME 18 NO.18, FRIDAY, JAN. 25, 2002-

Dayton City Manager Robert Ewart said rumors of problems with the city’s water supply are baseless. Monthly water test samples taken on January 9th showed evidence of contaminants, but those results were thrown out when subsequent testing showed Dayton’s water to be free of harmful bacteria. Ewart said windy conditions during the time the first samples were taken would account for the false results and assured Dayton citizens their water is some of the best in Southeast Texas.

The 76th Annual Men’s Brotherhood Banquet will be on February 21st at 7 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of 1st United Methodist Church in Liberty. This year’s keynote speaker will be Robert Gilmer, former manager of the Liberty Brookshire Brothers Grocery Store. Several years ago, Mr. Gilmer was promoted to the executive level of the large supermarket chain and now resides in Lufkin. The event is open to men of all faiths, tickets are $6 each and they are available from any member of the Men’s Bible Class at 1st United Methodist Church in Liberty.

Liberty ISD Superintendent Dr. Douglas Moore said the district has been awarded a $300,000 state grant for technological improvements. Dr. Moore said in addition to added equipment, two staff members from Lee College in Baytown will be on the Liberty High School campus full-time to answer any questions students might have about the new technology.

Dayton High School Senior Katie Bivens will be part of the entertainment at this year’s Super Bowl. The Dayton Dazzler Drill Team member was selected last summer for the American All-Star Dance Team. The members of that elite group will be at New Orleans’ Superdome on Sunday February 3rd to dance in the Super Bowl Pre-game and Half-Time Shows, performing alongside music superstars Mariah Carey and U-2. Katie is the daughter of Randy and Terri Bivens of Dayton.

1/27 FUNERALS:

William Morgan "Sonny" Gilliland, Jr., 62, of Liberty, Services at 2 p.m. Sunday at First Baptist Church in Liberty.

Liberty County Commissioners met yesterday and requested Corrections Corporation of America purchase a new smoke detection system for the Liberty County Jail. Assistant County Attorney Michael Pichinson said if the current system is not brought up-to-date soon, a portion of the jail may have to be closed. Jail Warden Robert Lacy said CCA would pay the initial cost, around $92,000, to be reimbursed by the county later, and the new smoke detection system should be installed before the facility’s State Jails Commission inspection at month’s end.

According to information from the Chambers County Sheriff’s Department, the investigation of a suspicious van in Winnie around 2:30 a.m. Saturday Jan. 12th led to the arrest of three juvenile suspects in as many as 15 burglaries and 3 stolen vehicles in that area. The van’s driver, reportedly fleeing deputies down Hwy 124 ran a roadblock and nearly struck one officer before lawmen shot out one of the van’s tires causing the juvenile to wreck in a ditch. The driver reportedly then fled on foot and actually was not apprehended until 1 p.m. the following day. That suspect, as well as the two other youths face charges ranging from felony theft and burglary to evading arrest.

Today is the first day for early voting in the Liberty ISD’s $17 million bond election to fund the construction of two new district campuses. District patrons can vote early Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the LISD Administration Office on Grand Ave today through February 5th. The bond issue election itself will be on February 9th.

Advance tickets are still available for Saturday night’s Liberty County Metro Go Texan Kick Off Dance at the Liberty Elks Lodge. The dance is from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. and will feature the music of Carl Manchaca. Tickets are $15 each and are on sale at Pesco in Liberty, Dayton Auto Parts and Luv Homes in Dayton. All proceeds from the dance will benefit the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Scholarship Fund.

James P. Short, 72, of Dayton, Services at 10 a.m. tomorrow at Pace-Stancil Funeral Home in Dayton. **

**LAKE RELEASE: 1,800 CFS * LIBERTY BRIDGE: 9.19 ASL**

-VOLUME 18 NO.15, TUESDAY, JAN. 22, 2002-

DPS Trooper Gary Wright said Richard Edward Parker, 52, of Dayton was riding a southbound motorcycle on Hwy 321 around 6:30 p.m. Sunday when he struck a car driven by Allen Prather of Cleveland that reportedly turned into his path. Richard Edward Parker died later Sunday evening at the Cleveland Regional Hospital and a passenger on the motorcycle, Robert Forrester, 18, also of Dayton remains at the hospital, his condition, initially critical is now described as stable. The driver of the car, Allen Prather did not require medical attention.

DPS reports indicate another fatal accident in Liberty County Sunday evening occurred when 81-year-old Ruby Warren of Daisetta struck a pedestrian on Hwy 90 near the Cedar Park RV and Camper Park in Ames. Greg Hamilton, 37, of Axtell, Texas who had recently moved temporarily to the RV Park for a TxDot work project was killed after being hit on the edge of the roadway. DPS Trooper Bobby Risch said Rose Warren told him she never saw the man in the growing darkness.

Two well-liked local peace officers that recently departed the area for other jobs have returned to their former posts. Liberty Police Officer Hugh Bishop left the Liberty PD after 10 years to accept a position as trainer in the Harris County Education Dept., but returned on January 17th. Also, following 9 months as a Union Pacific Railroad Detective, Dayton resident Brian Nichols has returned to the Liberty County DPS Office, a job he held for a number of years prior to the career switch.

Reservations are still available for tomorrow’s Liberty Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce Monthly Luncheon. The guest speaker is Kathryn Walker of the Beaumont Office of the Social Security Administration who will discuss the future of social security as well as answer questions about benefits. Lunch is etouffee catered by Fontenot’s Cajun/Creole Foods. Tickets are $6 each and reservations are available by calling the Liberty-Dayton Area Chamber Office at 336-5736.

1/22 FUNERALS:

Flossie Caroline Budewig Russell, 90, of Liberty, Arrangements under the direction of Allison Funeral Service in Liberty.

Clifford Lee Cox, of Liberty, Services pending at Sterling Funeral Home in Dayton.

**LAKE RELEASE: 1,800 CFS * LIBERTY BRIDGE: 9.79 ASL**

-VOLUME 18 NO.13, FRIDAY, JAN. 18, 2002-

According to a source close to the federal investigation of implied wrongdoing at the Liberty County Courthouse, no more federal charges or arrests are expected. Unsubstantiated charges that surfaced at the federal wiretapping trial of Precinct #4 Commissioner Toby Wilburn led federal agents to investigate as policy dictates, but that effort is reportedly being completed. As reported, Craig Houghton and Neal Williford pled guilty and were sentenced to 90 days in jail for illegal wiretapping and Commissioner Toby Wilburn was acquitted of similar charges.

According to Liberty Police, a rash of complaints about excessive noise in the vicinity of the TVE Fairgrounds has led to the purchase of a decibel meter to monitor the situation. Those in charge of events that repeatedly exceed legal limits could be fined up to $500 for a conviction of disorderly conduct.

The Liberty County Courthouse and all city offices in Liberty will be closed Monday in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Holiday. Municipal offices in Dayton will be open Monday for their normal business hours. Garbage service in both Liberty and Dayton will run as scheduled. All post offices and banks will also be closed Monday, but reopen on Tuesday.

The 4th Annual Liberty County Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration is tomorrow at 1 p.m. at Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church in Ames. Rev. Paul Cross of Turkey Creek Missionary Baptist Church in Liberty will be the keynote speaker and choirs from Dayton and P.A. Lincoln High Schools as well Immaculate Conception Catholic Church will perform.

Yesterday’s Shine All Nine Radiogram reported the date of the Liberty County Metro Go-Texan Kick-Off Dance as Jan. 15th. The correct date is Saturday Jan. 26th. We regret the error.

Liberty City Manager Kerry Lacy is one of three final candidates for the position of top administrator in Watauga, Texas, a city of 22,000 in the central part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The suburb is more than twice the size of Liberty but nothing is official yet and the 52-year-old Lacy, who has been Liberty City Manager since April 2000 said he is still undecided about whether or not he will accept the job if it is offered.

Liberty County Tax Assessor/Collector Mark McClelland reminds everyone that any property taxes still unpaid by February 1st will be assessed a 7% penalty. To avoid the penalty, taxes will need to be paid in person at the tax office in Liberty, the courthouse annex in Cleveland or postmarked by Jan. 31st.

The Liberty-Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce Monthly Luncheon is next Wednesday January 23rd at noon in the Liberty City Hall Auditorium. The guest speaker will be Kathryn Walker from the Beaumont Office of the Social Security Administration who will discuss the future of social security and answer questions about benefits. Lunch will provided by Fontenot’s Cajun/Creole Catering and tickets are $6 each. For reservations, call the Liberty-Dayton Area Chamber Office at 336-5736.

The Board of Directors of the Trinity Valley Exposition met Tuesday January. 8th to elect new board members. Five of the six TVE Board members up for re-election were elected to new two-year terms: Craig Ringer, Dr. James Hall, Neal Iverson, Lyle Malechek and Walt Saucier. Norman Brown of Dayton will replace Buddy Smart on the TVE Board. Mr. Brown has been involved with the TVE for many years, serving as Livestock Superintendent in the late 1990’s. The board has set October 15th through the 19th for this year’s Livestock Show and Rodeo.

The Liberty ISD Board of Trustees will hold a public hearing tomorrow at 4 p.m. in the Liberty Middle School Library. Those attending will hear a report on the school district’s rating based on the Academic Excellence Indicator System criteria. All district patrons and community members are invited.

1/16 FUNERAL: James Ross Harris Jr., 84, of Liberty, Services at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow at Heights Baptist Church in Liberty

**LAKE RELEASE: 1,800 CFS * LIBERTY BRIDGE: 7.18 ASL**

-VOLUME 18 NO.10, TUESDAY, JAN. 15, 2002-

The Texas Department of Transportation has set a date for the closure of FM 563 in Liberty so the ongoing flume project there can be completed. We have reported that TxDot is replacing the nearly 100-year-old overhead pipe that funnels water from the Trinity River to the Devers Canal System with a new underground pipe. FM 563 will be closed to traffic beginning next Monday January 21st for a period of from 10 to 14 days. Motorists who normally travel FM 563 will be detour around the construction area by way of FM 770 until the work is finished.

For a charge of up to $5, Texans can now be placed on a no-call list to prevent phone solicitations from tele-marketers. District #18 State Representative Dan Ellis said a new law, passed during the last legislative session, now requires telemarketing companies to update the no-call list 4 times a year, pull those names out of their soliciting databases and have until April 1st to begin doing so. Companies can be fined up to $1500 for failing to comply or for contacting someone whose name is on the no-call list. For more information call toll free 1-866-896-6225 for log on to www.texasnocall.com.

The public is invited to the Liberty County Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee’s 4th Annual Celebration on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church in Ames. Keynote speaker is Rev. Paul Cross of Turkey Creek Missionary Baptist Church in Liberty. The program will feature music from the Dayton and P. A. Lincoln High School Choirs as well as the Spanish Choir of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Liberty. For more information call 336-3831.

The Liberty Rotary Club’s 50th Annual Fish and Oyster Supper is this Friday from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Liberty City Hall Auditorium. Diners can enjoy the all-you-can-eat oysters and fish at the auditorium or use the convenient drive-through behind City Hall for supper-to-go. Tickets are $12 each and can be purchased from any member of the Liberty Rotary Club.

An 8-month old baby was killed in a manufactured home fire west of Dayton on FM 1413 Friday afternoon. According to E.J. Wisegerber, Assistant Chief of Dayton Volunteer Fire Department, when firefighters arrived, the baby was in the back bedroom, where the flames and smoke appeared to be heaviest. Precinct #4 J.P. Glenn Pruitt pronounced Courtney Lynn Morrow, of Dayton dead. An autopsy was performed Saturday at the Jefferson County Medical Examiner’s office, however the results have not been released yet.

According to DPS Trooper Marcus Dickerson, at around 5:30 PM Saturday night, 30 year-old David Alpha, of Liberty was riding his motorcycle on FM 2830 when he collided with a truck driven by Juan Yanez, 28, also of Liberty. Mr. Alpha was airlifted by Med-Link Air Ambulance to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Beaumont. Liberty County EMS took Mr. Yanez to Liberty-Dayton Hospital. DPS Trooper Dickerson said David Alpha was cited from traveling in the left lane and not passing.

Fire heavily damaged an unoccupied home in Hull Saturday Night. According to Hull-Daisetta Volunteer Fire Chief Lynn Wells, the home on Old FM 834 was completely gutted by fire, although it still stands. There were no utilities were attached to the home, and the fire was described as being suspicious.

The Liberty Boys Basketball team got off to a rough start in District losing to the #1 ranked state 3 A team, the Kountze Lions. The final score was Kountze 88 and Liberty 65. The Panthers next game is tomorrow at home against the Barbers Hill Eagles. That game starts at 7 PM.

1/14 FUNERALS:

Mary M. McKnight, 94 of Liberty. Services will be tomorrow at 10 AM at the Pace-Stancil Funeral Home in Dayton. Courtney Lynn Morrow, 8 months of Dayton. Services will be tomorrow at 2 PM at the Sterling Funeral Home in Dayton. Thelmer O. "Sadie" Sutterfield, 95 of Anahuac. A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Mary Linda Starnes, 77 of Dayton. Services were held yesterday at the Pace-Stancil Funeral Home in Dayton.

Daron Glen Roberts, 23 Months of Raywood. Services were held Saturday at the Oakdale Cemetery in Daisetta.

**LAKE RELEASE: 1,800 CFS * LIBERTY BRIDGE: 7.68 ASL

-VOLUME 18 NO.08, FRIDAY, JAN. 11, 2002-

More than 200 residents of Daisetta, almost half of that city’s natural gas customers have filed suit against the city over an incident in March 2000 when malfunctioning equipment flooded the area with cap-tan odorizer from the city’s natural gas system. The leak resulted in all gas service in Daisetta shut down for approximately 4 days and the lawsuit alleges city officials’ neglect caused the problem. In a petition entered by the defendant, City Officials deny those accusations. The suit is set to go before 75th District Judge J.C. Zbranek on July 15th.

The Liberty-Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce 26th Annual Awards Banquet is set for February 28th at 7 p.m. in the Dayton High School Cafeteria. This year’s keynote speaker will be author/humorist Doc Blakely. The event will also feature the annual Citizen of the Year Awards for both Liberty and Dayton. Tickets are available for $20 each at the Chamber of Commerce Office on Trinity St. in Liberty or call 336-5736.

The doors of the new Winnie Community Hospital officially opened last week to provide 24-hour emergency care to the Winnie community. It has been almost two years since the closure of what was then called the Winnie Medical Center and Hospital Administrator Debbie Verret said it is currently seeing patients and contains a fully functioning emergency room.

A lone Democrat entered the race for District #4 State Senator on the final day of filing. Mike Smith, 46, of Porter in East Montgomery owns his own insurance agency and serves on the East Montgomery County Improvement District Board. The three other candidates for the senate seat are all Republicans.

1/11 FUNERALS:

Gilbert Dagle, 85, of Dayton, Services at 2 p.m. tomorrow at Sterling Funeral Home in Dayton.

Earnie Mae Broomfield, 71, of Houston, Services at 11 a.m. tomorrow at New Bright Star Missionary Baptist Church in Houston.

Ethel Johnson, 96, of Hankamer, Services at 2 p.m. tomorrow at St. Mary Baptist Church in Hankamer.

According to information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Beaumont, both former Constable Craig Houghton and former Liberty County Courthouse Maintenance Supervisor Neal Williford will appear before U.S. District Judge Thad Heartfield today for sentencing. Both men pled guilty to a single charge of conspiracy to commit unlawful wiretapping at the county courthouse prior to the trial of the third man charged in that investigation: Precinct #4 Commissioner Toby Wilburn, who was acquitted of all charges in November. The sentencing of Williford has been pushed back a day from the date originally scheduled and now both men will be sentenced today.

The Dayton City Council met Monday and took the final public vote to approve annexing four more tracts of land along Hwy 146, adding those to the six tracts officially annexed last month. Still undecided is action on Tract #11, the southernmost section of land in the corridor. City Manager Robert Ewart said annexing the tract would bring a small part of an existing subdivision into the city limits, and several council members were reluctant to do so since county subdivision ordinances are not as strict as those the city imposes. Council tabled action, but must decide on Tract #11 one way or the other within 30 days.

Liberty County Commissioners met yesterday and approved contracts with Galveston and Montgomery Counties to house juvenile offenders arrested here, since, the new agreement with Corrections Corporation of America means converting the county’s juvenile facility to additional space to house adult inmates. Youthful offenders in Liberty County could also be sent to a proposed facility in Chambers County in the future.

The Dayton Athletic Booster Club’s Annual All-U-Can-Eat Fish and Oyster Dinner is this Saturday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Woodrow Wilson Junior High School in Dayton. Tickets are available at the door for $12 each and all proceeds will benefit Dayton Junior and Senior High School Athletic Programs.

Don Hughes, 77, of Pasadena, Services at 3 p.m. tomorrow at 1st Baptist Church in Liberty

**LAKE RELEASE: 11,800 CFS * LIBERTY BRIDGE: 17.22 ASL**

-VOLUME 18 NO.05, TUESDAY, JAN. 08, 2002-

According to information from the DPS, 54-year-old Charles Vest of Splendora was northbound on Cleveland-Huffman Road just after 8 a.m. on December 29th when he apparently lost control of his vehicle and struck a tree. The Splendora man was airlifted to Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston in critical condition. Charles Vest was pronounced dead of the injuries suffered in that wreck Sunday at the Houston hospital.

The last day for Liberty School District patrons to register to vote in the $17 million bond election set for Saturday February 9th is this Thursday. In order to vote you must live within the school district and have a valid voter registration certificate that can be obtained at the County Tax Collector/Assessor’s Office in the county courthouse. If passed, the bond issue will fund the construction of two campuses, a new San Jacinto Elementary and a new Liberty Middle School. Early voting for the bond election begins on Wednesday January 23rd and continues through Tuesday February 5th from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the LISD Administration Offices on Grand Avenue.

The Liberty County Chapter of the American Cancer Society will sponsor their 2nd Annual Relay for Life on April 5th and 6th at War Memorial Stadium in Liberty. Cancer Society Volunteer Judy Glover said last year’s event raised more than $50,000 for cancer research, with 29 teams participating and 45 cancer survivors making the emotional Survivor’s Lap around the track. For information on entering a team in the 2002 Relay for Life call in Liberty at 336-3945 or in Dayton at 258-5735. Information packets are also available at the Greater Cleveland Chamber of Commerce on South Bonham Street.

The Liberty Rotary Club’s Annual Oyster Supper is set for Friday Jan. 18th at the Liberty City Hall Auditorium. This will mark the 50th anniversary of the event, started in 1952 by Joe B. "Red" Burns, originally, to raise money to build a wading pool adjacent to the municipal pool on Main St. Tickets are $12 each and available from any Liberty Rotary Club member.

1/8 FUNERAL: Amanda Muril Franklin, formerly of Liberty, Services at 10 a.m. Thursday at 1st United Methodist Church in Liberty.

**LAKE RELEASE: 11,800 CFS * LIBERTY BRIDGE: 17.69 ASL**

-VOLUME 18 NO.03, FRIDAY, JAN. 04, 2002-

Liberty County Commissioners met in workshop session yesterday and heard from Adam Moore of Health and Safety Management Inc. of Beaumont about the toxic mold in the courthouse. Mr. Moore said, in addition to the third floor area that has been sectioned off for almost two months, the same dangerous mold is also present in the office of the maintenance supervisor and that area will also have to be closed. Overall, the building is reported to be clean and presents no hazard to the public. County Judge Lloyd Kirkham said he has applied for a $250,000 emergency grant to aid in the cost of mold clean up.

Chamber’s County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Dearl Hardy said deputies called to a disturbance at an Anahuac home on New Year’s Eve arrested former Chambers County Sheriff’s Deputy David Chavez for DWI. During a heated confrontation between Chavez and Dennis Lumpkins, the second man apparently went into cardiac arrest and died later at Bayside Hospital in Anahuac. Chief Hardy said an investigation in to the incident is ongoing.

Liberty Police Officer Cedric McDuffie said Kevin Michael Taylor, 18, of Liberty turned off Grand Ave. onto Canfield shortly before 7:30 a.m. yesterday and into the path of a vehicle driven by Sabrina Griffin, 26, also of Liberty. Mrs. Griffins’ two children, ages 6 and 10, were taken to Liberty-Dayton Hospital for treatment of what were thought to be minor injuries.

Information from Placo Construction of Lumberton, the company removing the nearly 100-year-old overhead flume on FM 563 in Liberty, is the road will have to be closed to traffic for 9 or 10 days. Then crews will finish removing the old pipe and lay the new underground pipe underneath the roadway. That closure of FM 563 is estimated to begin shortly after January 9th.

The filing period for candidates seeking to run in the March 12th Primary Elections ended yesterday. Last day filings for the Democratic Primary were C. Bruce Stratton for 75th District Judge, Bill "Sonny" Loftin for Liberty County Judge and Brent Slaughter and Oscoe Carter for Precinct #4 Constable. Those candidates who filed for the Republican Primary yesterday: Will Cox for Precinct #6 J.P. and Jim Mitchum for Precinct #4 County Commissioner. Mitchum’s filing brings the total number of candidates running for Precinct #4 Commissioner, both Democrat and Republican, to eight. Early voting for the March Primaries will begin on February 25th.

While it has been widely reported that the start of 2002 has brought official electric deregulation to Texas, Liberty County residents are not immediately effected. Sam Bethea of Entergy said that company does not have to deregulate until September of this year, electrical cooperatives such as the Sam Houston Electric Co-op are exempt from deregulation as are Liberty residents supplied by the Sam Rayburn Municipal Power Agency. More information on electric deregulation is available by logging on to www. powertochoose.org.

A tip from a member of the Hardin-Moss Hill Area Crime Watch brought Sheriff’s deputies to Maci Feed on Hwy 146 in Hardin shortly after 8 p.m. Tuesday where they found 20-year-old David Ambrose sitting in a parked car behind the feed store. Liberty County Sheriff’s Deputy Kenny Dagle said Ambrose admitted to attempting to break in to the business and deputies found heavy bolt cutters, as well as a small amount of a substance believed to be marijuana in the vehicle.

The Greater Cleveland Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Banquet is on Tuesday January 15th at the Family Life Center of the 1st Baptist Church on West Hanson Street. Keynote speaker will be Houston Astros owner Drayton McLane. Tickets are $20.

Moss Bluff Volunteer Fire Chief John Wilson said the home of Delmar Mangham was completely engulfed in flames by the time firefighters arrived early yesterday morning. The fire was extinguished with help from the Ames and Raywood Volunteer Fire Departments, but not before the approximately 1800 square-foot brick home was completely destroyed. The cause of the blaze is under investigation by Fire Marshall Jim Wilson.

In the most recent filings for the March 12th Primary Elections, local attorney Richard Baker has filed to seek the democratic nomination for Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court. Republican incumbent Tom Phillips of Houston has filed for re-election to that post. Three more candidates have also signed up to run for local J.P. Offices. Republicans Bernadine Cusimano and Larry Wilburn have filed for Precinct #5 and #4 J.P. respectively. Precinct #4 J.P. Glenn Pruitt will also face Democratic opposition in March from D. R. Petty of Kenefick. Today is the final day statewide to file for the primary elections.

The National Weather Service in Houston predicts temperatures dropping into the low 20’s overnight tonight for from 4 to 6 hours and while wrapping exposed water pipes is recommended, the temperature is not expected to remain below freezing for long enough to cause severe damage. Entergy’s Sam Bethea said the Power Company is taking precautions to prevent the kind of mass power outages this area has experienced during periods of cold weather in the past. The Weather Service reports this particular cold snap will be a brief one, easing by tomorrow.

Liberty County Commissioners will meet in workshop session tomorrow at 11 a.m. to discuss dealing with the toxic mold discovered on the 3rd floor of the county courthouse. The area has been closed to the public since that time and the office of District Clerk Melody Gilmore has been moved to a new location on Trinity Street. Commissioners have received bids from three different certified industrial hygienists for examination and assistance in the clean up process.